Essentials
- Banking for Expats
- Accepted widely: Revolut, Wise, Monzo; Local: Chase Premier Plus
- Accommodation
- High demand. Median 1-bed rental: $2,800 - $3,500/month.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (strict 30-day minimum in many zones), Landing, Furnished Finder
- Budget Accommodation
- The Wayfarer (Dorm beds from $75/night), Orange Tree Inn ($140/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- West Beach or Lower State Street (near Stearns Wharf)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- The Funk Zone or San Roque (quieter, more residential)
- City
- Santa Barbara, California, United States
- Population
- 91,500 (City), 448,000 (County)
- Internet Speed
- Average 250 Mbps (Cox Communications, Frontier Fiber)
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (sourced from Lake Cachuma)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon (~$40-60/month for unlimited data)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Workzones (Paseo Nuevo, $45/day pass, $350/mo), Impact Hub ($300/mo)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Dart Coffee Co (Garden seating, Funk Zone), Lighthouse Coffee (The Mesa)
- Networking Events
- Santa Barbara Tech Meetup (Monthly at Impact Hub), Chamber of Commerce Mixers
- Social Events for Expats
- SB Newcomers Club, InterNations Santa Barbara chapter
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft (Highly available)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- BCycle (Electric bike share, $7/30 mins), Wheel Fun Rentals ($15-25/hr)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Butterfly Beach (Montecito) or Hendry's Beach (Dog friendly)
- Top Regional Airline
- Alaska Airlines, United Express (SBA Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Delta, American Airlines (Connecting through LAX/SFO)
- Highway Access
- U.S. Route 101 (The main artery connecting LA and San Francisco)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Santa Barbara Amtrak Station (Pacific Surfliner route)
- Public Transport Passes
- MTD Santa Barbara ($1.75 per ride, $52 monthly pass)
- Regional Travel
- Amtrak to Los Angeles (2.5 hours, $25-$40), Santa Barbara Airbus ($55 to LAX)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (Pueblo St)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- CorePower Yoga (La Arcada, $32 drop-in), Yoga Soup ($25 drop-in)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- AC4 Fitness (24/7, $50/mo), Gold's Gym ($60-80/mo)
- Laundry Services
- State Street Laundromat ($4-6 per load), Mariposa Cleaners (Wash/Fold)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, Grubhub, UberEats
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Santa Barbara Spot Prawns or Tri-Tip Sandwich
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Mesa Verde (Vegetarian), Rascal's Vegan (Inside Bibi Ji)
- Best Dessert Spots
- McConnell's Fine Ice Creams (State St), Andersen’s Danish Bakery
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Trader Joe's (Milpas St), Santa Barbara Farmers Market (Sat/Tue)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day/Next-day available)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Whole Foods Market via Amazon
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Funk Zone (Wine/Beer), State Street (Cocktails/Clubs)
- Local Brewery
- Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co, M.Special Brewing Co
- Wine Bars
- The Valley Project, Deep Sea Tasting Room (on the Pier)
- Street Food Stalls
- La Super-Rica Taqueria (Famous tacos, Milpas St)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bibi Ji (Indian/Natural Wine), Arigato Sushi
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Old Mission Santa Barbara ($15), Stearns Wharf, County Courthouse Clock Tower
- Museums & Art Venues
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art ($10), MOXI (Science/Tech)
- Historical Sites
- El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park
- Religious Sites
- Mission Santa Barbara (1786), Our Lady of Sorrows
- Annual Events
- Old Spanish Days Fiesta (August), SB International Film Festival (February)
- Cultural Districts
- The Funk Zone (Arts/Industrial), Presidio District
- Theater Venues
- The Arlington Theatre, Granada Theatre, Lobero Theatre
- Local Markets
- Saturday Farmers Market (Cota & Santa Barbara St)
- Music Scene
- Santa Barbara Bowl (Outdoor concerts), SOhO Restaurant & Music Venue
- Street Art
- Murals in the Funk Zone and the 'Chasing the Light' installations
- Cooking Classes
- Apples to Zucchini Cooking School ($75-$100/class)
- Art Galleries
- Sullivan Goss - An American Gallery, Waterhouse Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Santa Barbara County Courthouse (Spanish Colonial Revival)
- Local Heritage
- Spanish Colonial Architecture and Chumash Native American heritage
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Douglas Family Preserve, Lotusland ($50, botanical garden)
- National Parks Nearby
- Channel Islands National Park (Access via ferry from Ventura)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Cabrillo Bike Path (Beachfront), Inspiration Point Trail
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Knapp's Castle (San Marcos Pass), Franceschi Park
- Birdwatching Locations
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Ledbetter Beach (Designated grills only, no open sand fires)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- FedEx Office (State St), UPS Store, USPS Post Office
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple State Street, iPhone Repair SB
- Table Tennis Spots
- Carrillo Recreation Center
- Language Classes
- Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) Continuing Education
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Santa Barbara Central Library (Anapamu St)
- Community Centers
- Carrillo Rec Center, Westside Neighborhood Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Test Zero (Virtual Reality center)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Chumash Casino Resort (Located 40 mins north in Santa Ynez)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $16,500/m² (e.g., 40 m² = $660,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $12,000/m² (e.g., 40 m² = $480,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $15,000/m² (e.g., 60 m² = $900,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $10,500/m² (e.g., 60 m² = $630,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $14,000/m² (e.g., 80 m² = $1,120,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $9,500/m² (e.g., 80 m² = $760,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (Federal) + 8.84% (California State)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0-30% depending on treaty (usually 15% for residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for US Citizens; Resident Aliens taxed on US source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 13.3% (California State)
- VAT
- 8.75% (Sales Tax - SB City rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Subpart F and GILTI rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.1% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Documentary Transfer Tax (~$1.10 per $1,000 value)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No (High tax burden, but high quality of life)